Fish will be re-introduced into a much-loved village pond after it had to be drained to rid it of an illegal species.

Brenchley and Matfield Parish Council agreed at a meeting last night (November 6) that it will re-stock the water at Matfield, near Paddock Wood, with tench, roach-rudd, perch and pike in the new year.

Earlier this year, Prussian carp, an invasive species from east Asia and central Europe, was found in the pond and an enforcement notice to remove them was issued by the Environment Agency.

They are considered a risk to native fish and importing them or releasing them in the wild in England is banned.

For this reason, the government agency told the parish council, which maintains the green, that it needed to “eradicate” the fish and work started to remove the Prussian carp – of which there were thought to be several tons – in September.

This included draining the water, covering the bottom of the pond with hydrated lime before digging deeper pockets of water, working on the islands, creating areas for wildlife, adding land drains and replanting wildflower seeds and lilies.

The £20,000 project finished last month and the pond was left to refill with rainwater.

It has now been decided fish will be re-introduced, but there will not be any carp.

The Environment Agency requires the pond to be registered as a fishery if it is to re-stock the water which the council has said, in a statement, will take a little bit of time to achieve.

It is thought fish will be put in the pond early next year and fishing will be permitted for children under the age of 16 who live in the parish.

The statement also said the parish council appointed resident Richard Groves as pond guardian to oversee fishing and the yearly maintenance programme.

Its annual volunteer clean-up of the roadside bank is also being held on Sunday, November 19, with residents being encouraged to attend.